The NBA regular season continues with games on Wednesday. The Cleveland Cavaliers will hit the road and take on the Houston Rockets. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Cavaliers-Rockets prediction and pick.
These two teams have had very different starts to the season. The Cleveland Cavaliers have won four of their last five games. While the Houston Rockets have lost their last four games. This should be an interesting match between two teams trending in opposite directions.
Here are the Cavaliers-Rockets NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Cavaliers-Rockets Odds
Cleveland Cavaliers: -5 (-110)
Houston Rockets: +5 (-110)
Over: 219 (-110)
Under: 219 (-110)
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Why The Cavaliers Could Cover The Spread
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a good season so far. They have shown that they are one of the more competitive teams in the league. Through their first 51 games, they have managed to win 31 and lose only 20. They are coming off of a three-point victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Cleveland should have been able to win that game by more, but at the end of the day, a win's a win. The Cavs will look to gain another win on Wednesday as they face an even worse opponent. The Rockets have struggled all season, and while Houston has some potential, the Cavs should have no problem stealing this win on the road.
Cleveland's win over New Orleans was very unique. The Cavs leaned heavily on their bench as their two best players struggled throughout the entire game. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, two players having breakout seasons, combined for only 20 points and 13 rebounds. While three bench players all played for more than 20 minutes and combined for 47 points. The Cavs were able to get away with this against a weak opponent, but as they face tougher competition they will need their stars to step up. That last game really seemed like an outlier and the Cavs should be able to bounce back on Wednesday.
One thing standing in Cleveland's way is injuries. The Cavs currently have four players listed on their injury report. None of the four players listed will be available for Wednesday's match. The newest addition to the list is Darius Garland, who is out with a back injury. The loss of Garland will definitely impact this Cavs team, but they are still capable of persevering. Expect Cleveland to battle on Wednesday and to try and dominate the Rockets.
Why The Rockets Could Cover The Spread
The Houston Rockets have been one of the worst teams in the NBA. While they have had a few close games against tough opponents, for the most part they have been steamrolled. Through their first 50 games, the Rockets have only managed to win 14 and have lost a staggering 36 games. Their most recent defeat came at the hands of the Golden State Warriors by 14. The Warriors are quite possibly the best team in the NBA, so that loss was definitely not unexpected. The Rockets face an easier, but still tough, opponent on Wednesday. The Cavs have been competitive this season and if the Rockets want to win it won't be easy.
Houston actually played a very well-rounded game against Golden State. The Rockets are kind of just like a worse version of the Warriors. Houston leaned heavily on their starters to play the bulk of the game, each contributing for at least 30 minutes. However, the whole team stepped up in respect to scoring, with seven of their nine players scoring in the double digits. Houston's main struggles came on the defensive end. The Rockets have shown that they can score the ball and put up points, but they continue to struggle to limit their opponents from doing so. If Houston can step up on defense, then their offense should have no problem taking care of the rest.
Perhaps the biggest thing working in the Rockets' favor is their lack of injuries. While Houston may be struggling, they have been doing so with their best players on the court. The Rockets currently have only two players listed on their injury report. None of those players are new additions and they have had little to no impact on this team's performance. The Rockets have their guys available and will be able to play without any handicaps. Expect Houston to come out and battle on Wednesday.
Final Cavaliers-Rockets Prediction & Pick
The Cavaliers are definitely the better team here. Cleveland has been in a bit of a slump lately. While they have been winning games, they have not been dominating as they should be. With that said, the Rockets have been having a horrible season, and betting on them to cover is almost always a losing play. While the Cavs may continue to struggle, they could also break their streak on Wednesday. Cleveland is just the better team. Pick the Cavaliers to win and cover.
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FINAL CAVALIERS-ROCKETS PICK: Cleveland Cavaliers -5 (-110)
FINAL CAVALIERS-ROCKETS SCORE PREDICTION: Cavaliers 112 – Rockets 105
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